During the night the wind dropped and the cloud cleared. It was starry and mostly clear. The temperature also dropped and by first light it was -1degC and the tent was frozen. I'd brought my excellent Peak petrol stove to cook on so the sub zero temperature was no problem at all as I boiled the pan for my first brew.

Moonrise from Ingleborough.

Sunrise above Ingleborough.

Sunrise from Ingleborough

The Howgills from Ingleborough

There wasn't a breath of wind as I wandered about the Ingleborough plateau waiting for the sunrise just before 6am. I wandered through the old hut circles then had a look at the few remaining stones of the old sanatorium before watching the thin crescent moon above Pen-Y-Gent and the sun rise into a low band of cloud. I enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and packed the tent away to be on my way about 8am. It was so nice I wandered round the summit again before setting off down on the path at the NE corner.

I was heading for Chapel-le-Dale but firstly wanted to check out the spring below Swine Tail. It produces much more water than the one just above the steep descent to Humphrey Bottom. The path is quite steep and not normally a problem but I needed to take my time with full pack. The clear sky at sunrise had started to haze over. After the steep descent I was on an easier and level path which gave nice views of my next objective ahead; Whernside. Limestone outcrops and small trees began to appear and as I descended to the ruined outbuildings of Souther Scales. There was no sign of occupation but it was being used as curtains were in the windows and washing up stuff in the kitchen. A direct path took me to the main road and across to the side road to Chapel-le-Dale. I followed it a short way to the church of St Leonard's then turner right up a narrow lane.

St Leonard's, Chapel-le-Dale

the statue

THE STATUE
For years a Statue stood on this spot. It was vandalised on Saturday August 27th 1983 and subsequently found in 30 feet of water at the bottom of HURTLE POT. An enthusiastic team of divers made the recovery and it has been erected again as found. It was the creation of the late Charles L'Anson the well known Sculptor and Artist. Time will tell if the spirit of the 'BOGGARD' of HURTLE POT is now enshrined in the Statue.

I continued up towards Ellerbeck and had good views back to Ingleborough. The weather was still high cloud but it looked like I would miss any rain today. I was on a stoned farm track and followed it to Bruntscar and the building called Brunscat Hall (sic). The 'T' having been lost between the Ordnace Survey map and the building name plate. The path then headed up the fell towards the summit of Whernside. It was a steady plod but not too bad. I was now seeing a few people out walking as I reached the summit. I crossed over the wall and stopped briefly in the wind shelter to check my map before cutting off NNW to head down to the spring by the wall and my camp for the night.

Ingleborough from Ellerbeck.